Method for putting-out hides and skins



Nov. 20, 1962 DAMON ETAL 3,064,461

METHOD FOR PUTTING-OUT HIDES AND SKENS Original Filed May 13, 1960 5Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 20, 1962 DAMON, ETAL 3,064,461

METHOD FOR PUTTING-OUT HIDES AND SKINS Original Filed May 13, 1960 5Shets-Sheet 2 In" [E] M If Nov. 20, 1962 H. E. DAMON, JR, ETAL 3,054,451

METHOD FOR PUTTING-OUT HIDES AND SKINS Original Filed May 15, 1960 5Sheets-Sheet 3 //J y 40 MM 4 J2 Mi Hz in Nov 20, 1962 DAMON, ETAL3,064,461

METHOD FOR PUTTING-OUT HIDES AND SKINS Original Filed May 13, 1960 5Sheets-Sheet 4 Nov. 20, 1962 H. E. DAMON, JR, ETAL METHOD FORPUTTING-OUT HIDES AND SKINS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed May 13, 19603,054,461 Patented Nov. 29, 1962 1 Claim. (Cl. 69-21) This inventionrelates to the tanning of leather and pertains more specifically to amethod for putting-out or slicking wet hides and skins, after tanningand washing, on smooth-faced drying panels.

During the manufacture of leather, the wet hides and skins, aftertanning and washing, must be dried under tension in order to produce amaterial free from objectionable wrinkles and from excessive variationin gauge. For many years the drying procedure most widely used hasinvolved applying a layer of wet paste to a smooth flat hard surface ofglass, highly polished metal, or the like, then spreading and stretchingthe Wet hide on this surface manually with the grain side next to thesmooth face of the panel, and allowing the hide to dry in position onthe panel in suitable drying ovens, after which the hide is stripped andsubjected to further processing. The foregoing procedure has not beenentirely satisfactory because even when highly skilled workers carry outthis procedure, it is impossible to obtain completely uniform resultsboth because of variations in technique from one worker to another inspreading the hide on the panel and because the technique of anindividual worker varies as he becomes fatigued. Consequently, the gaugeof the hide and the extent of stretching of the hide may vary from onearea to another. In addition, more water may be removed from one portionof the hide than another by the worker during this procedure, leading touneven drying in the oven.

One object of the present invention is to provide a method for effectinggreater, more extensive stretching of the wet hides and skins in orderto obtain a greater footage yield of leather.

Another object is to provide a method for efiecting a more uniformsmoothing and stretching of wet hides while being put-out on dryingpanels and for providing a greater flattening effect in order tominimize imperfections such as neck wrinkles in the grain side of theleather, resulting in an up-grading of the leather product.

Another object is to provide a method for subjecting wet hides and skinsto the spreading, stretching and smoothing action of a rapidlyreciprocating pasting blade.

Still another object is to provide a method for removing additionalwater from the hides during the puttingout operation, thus acceleratingthe drying and making it more uniform.

Other and further objects will be apparent from the drawing and from thedescription which follows.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is aview in side elevation of a preferred embodiment of theapparatus used in the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view in rear elevation;

FIG. 3 is a view in section taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view in vertical section taken along line 4 4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view partly in vertical section taken along line 5-5 of FIG.4;

FIG. 6 is a view in section taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 8 is a view insection taken along line 88 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a view in rear elevation, partly broken away, showing anotherembodiment of apparatus used in the invention;

FIG. 10 is a view, partly in section, taken along line 16-40 of FIG. 9;and

FIG. 11 is a view, partly broken away and in section, similar to FIG. 4showing another embodiment of the mounting of the putting-out blade.

As best appears in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing, there is provided aconveyor track in the form of a T-beam 10 from which is suspended bymeans of yoke 12 and rollers 14 a drying panel 16 having a reinforcingmargin 17. The panel may be of any conventional construction such asglass, stainless steel, etc. The bottom margin of the panel is ledbetween a pair of fixed guides 18, 18 which serves to maintain the panelin approximately vertical position despite lateral pressure applied toeither side of the panel. Both of the opposite faces of panel 16 aresmooth and highly polished, and both are adapted to receive and supporta wet hide 20 which is loosely adhered to the face of the panel by meansof a layer of wet paste. For the sake of simplicity, the method of thepresent invention and the apparatus used therein will be described onlyfor use on one face of the panel, but it will be understood that inactual commercial practice the method of the present invention may beapplied to both faces of each panel.

The panels 16 are continuously advanced along track it by any suitablemeans (not shown) which pushes each panel against the one ahead of it onthe conveyor track.

Mounted beside the path of the advancing panels and extendingtransversely thereof at a smoothing and stretching station are a pair ofspaced-apart rails 22, 22 supported by brackets 24, 24. Slidably mountedon rails 22, 22 by means of collars 26, 26 is a platform 28. Piston rod30 of pneumatic cylinder 32 is connected to platform 28 by means of lug34. Adjustable stops 36, 36 serve to limit the sliding movement ofplatform 28 on rails 22, 22 so as to maintain the platform in thedesired position. Mounted on platform 28 and extending verticallyupwardly from it are six tracks 40, 40 in the form of T-beams, thetracks being connected at their upper ends by means of a suitable frame42 which maintains the tracks in their proper relatively spacedposition. Mounted between opposing pairs of tracks for vertical movementon rollers 44, 44 are carriers 46, 48. Carrier 46 is linked throughconnecting rod 50 to the piston of pneumatic cylinder 52 which ismounted on platform 28, while carrier 43 is linked by means ofconnecting rod 54 to the piston of pneumatic cylinder 56 mounted onframe 42. Fixed to each carrier is a laterally extending bracket 58, 60on which a holder 62, 64 is pivotally mounted by means of a suitable pin66 (see FIG. 4). The lower free end 70 of holder 62 is pivotallyconnected to pull rod 72 which passes freely through an aperture inbracket 74 secured to carrier 48. A compression spring 76 surrounds pullrod 72, extending between bracket 74 and an adjustable nut 78 threadedon the end of pull rod 72. Compression spring 76 yieldably urges holder62 to rotate in a clockwise direction as seen in FIGS. 1 and 4.

Similarly, a pull rod 82 connected to the free end 84 of holder 64 isurged by compression spring 86 to rotate holder 64 in acounter-clockwise direction as seen in FIG. 1. Adjustable stop bolts 88,9t limit the extent of rotation of each holder 62, 64 in response to thecompression springs.

Mounted in each holder 62, 64 is a conventional pneumatic or air hammer92, 94 each of which carries a conventional putting-out blade 100, 102.The putting-out blade is preferably a sheet of resin-impregnated fiberor fiberboard approximately 4 to 4 inch thick having a blunt or dullrounded operating edge which is adapted to be rubbed against and toengage frictionally the surface of a wet hide or skin without cutting.it. Each blade is mounted to form an acute angle with the surface ofpanel 16, blade 1% converging upwardly with the panel, and blade 102coverging with the panel in the opposite direction. The angle betweeneach blade and the face of the panel may vary from to as much as 65 oreven more. Thepneumatic hammer is of a conventional type which providesa rapid reciprocation of the blade in its own plane toward and away fromdrying panel 16, the reciprocation thus being in a path which isconvergent with the face of panel 16 at an acute angle thereto. Theamplitude of reciprocation of each blade is approximately ,1 to A inchand the rate of reciprocation is approximately 5 to 50 cycles persecond.

Mounted on each carrier 46, 48 is a pneumatic cylinder 218, 224 eachcarrying a piston 229, 226 in position to engage the free ends ofholders 64, 62 and move them against the compression of springs 86, 76to swing the blades 182, 108 away from the surface of panel 16 and ofhide 20..

Means are provided for controlling pneumatically the extent of verticaltravel of carrier 48 (FIG. 2) with its associated putting-out blade 160in the form of a fixed air relief valve 118 mounted on supporting rod112 which in turn is :adiustably fixed to bracket 114 mounted on frame42. Air relief valve 118 (see FIG. 6) consists simply of a spring-loadedvalve normally urged to closed position having a projecting valve stem116 which serves to open valve 118 when subjected to pressure on itsfree end 118. An abutment 120, in position to engage the end 118 ofvalve stem 16 as carrier 48 rises, is slidably mounted in collar 122fixed to an arm 124 (FIG. 2) extending from carrier 48. A compressionspring 126 serves to urge abutment 128 to the left as seen in FIG. 6,collar 128 serving to limit the movement of abutment 120 while spline130 maintains the elongated abutment in proper vertical alignment withvalve stem 116. The ends of abutment 120 are rounded to permit smoothengagement of the abutment with the projecting end 118 of valve stem 116as carrier 48 moves vertically on its tracks. Opening of pressure reliefvalve 110 when abutment 120 engages the end 118 of valve stem 116 servesto control pneumatic piston 56, as will be hereinafter described, toterminate the upward movement of carrier 48.

The extent of downward movement of carrier 48 is similarly controlled bypressure relief valve 132 mounted on rod 134 in position to engageabutment 136, which in turn is secured to bracket 138 extending upwardlyfrom carrier 48. Rod 134 carries a second pressure relief valve 148which extends in position to engage an abutment 142 mounted on carrier46 which serves to limit the extent of upward movement of carrier 46.Rod 134 is mounted for vertical sliding movement through collar 143secured to frame 42, being linked through connecting rod 144 to thepiston of pneumatic cylinder 146 which is secured to platform 28.

In like manner a pressure relief valve 150 is mounted on rod 152 whichin turn is mounted for sliding movement through bracket 153 secured totrack 40, being actuated by connecting rod 154 which serves to connectit to the piston of pneumatic cylinder 156 mounted on frame 42. Pressurerelief valve 150 is in position to be engaged by abutment 158 secured tocarrier 46 to limit its downward movement.

The actuating and control means for the machine, as shown in FIG. 7 ofthe drawing, includes a supply of air, steam, or other pressure fluidcontrolled by foot valve 17 0. When valve 176 is opened, the pressurefluid is admitted to slide valves 172, 174. When the slides 176, 178 ofthese valves are in the position Shown in FIG. 7, the pressure 4 fluidis admitted past slides 176, 178 into conduits 180, 182 and cylinders52, 56 serving to move carriers 46 and 48 upwardly. Valve members 179,181 prevent the fluid from entering passageways 184, 186, 188 or 190.Restricted passageways 177, 177 extending axially through slides 17 6,17 8 provide a leakage path through which fluid pressure is transmittedto opposite ends of slides 176, 17 8. The movement of the two carrierscontinues until relief valve 111 is opened by contact with the abutment120, and valve 140 is opened by contact with abutment 142. This ventsthe right-hand end of each slide valve 172, 174 to the atmosphere, andbecause passageway 177 is restricted, the pressure at that end of eachslide 176, 178 drops, permitting the slides to be urged to the right bythe fluid pressure existing at the left-hand end. This shifts valves 179, 181 connecting the lower end of each cylinder 52, 56 to the ventopening 184, 186 and connecting the upper end of each cylinder 52, 56with the source of fluid pressure through conduits 188, 198. Thereuponeach carrier 46, 48 is moved downwardly (relief valves and closing)until relief valves 132 and are opened by contact with their respectiveabutments 136, 158, at which point slides 17 6, 178 are moved to theleft again (the pressure at the right-hand end of each valve havingmeanwhile been restored through restricted passageway 17 7 and theoperation is repeated. Slide valves 172 and 174 are'conventional valveswell known in the art.

The vertical position of the relief valves 132, 140 is controlled bymeans of a hand-actuated valve 192 which serves to admit pressure fluidthrough conduits 194, 195

to cylinder 146 while the vertical position of relief valve 150 is inturn controlled by hand-actuated valve 196 controlling the admission ofpressure fluid through conduits 198, 198 to cylinder 156.

At the same time that pressure fluid is admitted to cylinder 52 throughconduit 188 to urge carrier 46 downwardly, pressure fluid is suppliedthrough branch conduit 210 to pneumatic hammer 94 to cause rapidreciprocation of putting-out blade 102. Similarly, when fluid pressureis admitted through conduit 182 to cylinder 56 to drive carrier 49upwardly, it is also admitted through branch conduit 212 to pneumatichammer 92 so as to reciprocate putting-out blade 101). In this situationeach of blades 100, 102 is yieldably urged toward panel 16 by means ofcompression springs 76, 86.

When pressure fluid is admitted through conduit to cylinder 52 to drivecarrier 46 upwardly, the pressure fluid is simultaneously admittedthrough branch conduit 216 to cylinder 218, driving piston 220 outwardlyand causing holder 64 to pivot counterclockwise about its support andwithdraw blade 102 from panel 16. In the same manner, when pressurefluid is introduced through conduit to cylinder 56 to move carrier 48downwardly, it is simultaneously admitted through conduit 222 tocylinder 224, driving piston 226 against holder 62 and rotating it in aclockwise direction to move blade 100 away from panel 16 and hide 20.

Because the extent of movement of blades 180, 102 away from panel 16upon actuation of'pistons 220 and 226 is insuflicient to permit theblades to clear the reinforced margins 17 of the panels, a separatemanually controlled valve 230 is provided to supply pressure fluid tocylinder 32 in order to move the entire platform 28 toward and away frompanel 16 in order to permit margins 17 of the panels to pass blades 100,102.

In operation of the device to carry out the method of the presentinvention, a coating of Wet paste is first applied to the smooth face ofpanel 16 as by spraying in conventional fashion, after which a wet hideor skin 20 is loosely adhered in place manually. Panel 16 then advancespast the smoothing and stretching station at which the platform 28 islocated. Valve 230 is actuated to Withdraw platform 28 from the path ofthe advancing panel 16 to permit its marginal portion 17 to pass blades,100, 102. Valve 230 is then actuated to move platform 28 toward 5 panel16 and bring it up against its stops 36, 36. Foot valve 170 and valve192 are then actuated to move control rod 134 with its pressure reliefvalves 132, 14% to such a position that blade 100 mounted on carrier 48will begin its upward stroke, and blade 102 mounted on carrier 46 willbegin its downward stroke, close to the midline of the wet hide or skin.Valve 196 is also actuated to move control rod 152 into position toterminate the downward movement of carrier 46 and its associated blade102 at some point beneath the lower margin of the hide or skin.

It is normally unnecessary to adjust the position of control rod 112,each hide being placed on panel 16 with its upper edge in approxiatelythe same position.

As foot valve 170 continues to be held open, carriers 46, 48 arereciprocated vertically on their supporting tracks, blades 100 and 192being yieldably pressed against the wet hide or skin while they arerapidly reciprocated by hammer 92, 94 as the blades are advanced in thedirection of convergence of each blade with the face of the panel, i.e.,toward the apex of the angle formed between the blade and the face ofthe panel. The course through which each blades advances is thusparallel to the face of the panel and transverse to the direction oftravel of the panel. During the return of the blades, they are withdrawnfrom contact with hide 20 by pistons 220, 226 and their rapidreciprocation by hammers 92, 94 is interrupted. Successive sweepingadvances of blades 190, 192 across the skin are made as panel 16continues to advance past the smoothing and stretching station until theentire hide or skin has been subjected to the action of thereciprocating blades. The speed of advance of panel 16 is such that eachcourse of a blade across the wet hide overlaps slightly the precedingcourse of the same blade, thus subjecting the entire surface of the hideto the action of the blades. If desired, panel 16 may remain stationarywhile platform 23 is moved past it, the essential feature being onlythat there be relative movement of the panel and the smoothing andstretching station.

When it is desired to have both blade 100 on carrier 48 and blade 102 oncarrier 46 begin their strokes from positions adjacent each other, asshown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, so that they move simultaneouslyin opposite directions, the slides 176, 173 will be at opposite ends oftheir respective valves as seen in schematic FIG. 7 instead of at thesame ends, and will move in opposite directions.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, control rods 134, 152 are secured toracks 240, 242 driven by pinions 244, 246, respectively, which are keyedto shaft 248 of reversible electric motor 250 controlled by aconventional reversing switch (not shown). Pinion 246 is twice thediameter of pinion 244, causing rack 242 and control rod 152 to movetwice as far as rack 240 and control rod 134. This ensures that nomatter what the position of control rod 134 and relief valve 132, 140which actuate carriers 46, 48 to start their operative advances, thelength of advance of both carriers will remain the same. Thisarrangement facilitates operation of the device, since by maintainingthe starting position for the advance of carriers 46, 48 near thevertical midpoint of the irregularly shaped hide as it is moved withpanel 16 past the machine station, this arrangement ensures thatstretching tension is applied to the hide in both upward and downwarddirection equally and produces more uniform results.

While manually and pneumatically controlled valves have been shown forcontrolling the supply of air or steam to cylinders 32, 52 and 56 whichserve as prime movers, it will be understood that any other conventionalcontrols may be employed. For example, conventional solenoidactuatedfour-way valves may be used in place of slide valves 172, 17 4, in whichcase limit switches will take the place of relief valves 110, 132, and150. Similarly, a solenoid-actuated valve and reversing switch mayreplace valve 230.

It is found that the rapid vibration or reciprocation of the blades,together With the yieldable pressure of the blade against the surface ofthe wet hide, serves to provide remarkably uniform smoothing andstretching action upon the hides, extracting a uniform high percentageof water from the hide and subjecting the hide to a uniformly highstretch while pasting it to the face of the drying panel. In some cases,however, vibration or reciprocation of the blades is not essential andthe blade may be merely clamped or otherwise fixedly secured to itsholder. One such construction is shown in FIG. 11, in which blade 1% isfixed to a rigid handle 280 which in turn is secured in holder 62 bymeans of set-screw 282.

While the embodiment shown incorporates only a single pair ofputting-out blades, it will be appreciated that additional pairs ofblades may be provided, operated in like manner.

This application is a division of application Serial No. 30,399 which inturn is a continuation in part of application Serial No. 811,139, filedMay 5, 1959.

Although specific embodiments of the invention have been describedherein, it is not intended to limit the invention solely thereto, but toinclude all of the obvious variations and modifications within thespirit and scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

The method of putting-out wet hides and the like onto a smooth-faceddrying panel having a layer of wet paste on its face which comprisesurging said hide into intimate contact with the face of said panel byadvancing a dulledged putting-out blade across said hide whileyieldingly pressing the edge of the blade against the hide andsimultaneously rapidly reciprocating the edge along a path convergentwith the face of the panel at an acute angle in the direction of advanceof the edge.

No references cited.

